Nature Water study led by MSU geoscientist highlights global aridification, threat to agriculture
Contact: Kathryn Rodenmeyer
STARKVILLE, Miss.A long-term shift toward drier conditions is reshaping landscapes and livelihoods across the globe. Known as aridification, this gradual drying trend now affects 2.3 billion people and 40% of Earths land, with serious implications for agriculture and water systemsespecially in the U.S. From Californias Central Valley to the Great Plains, often called the worlds breadbasket, farmers are facing tough decisions about what to plant, how to irrigate, and how to adapt to a future where water is no longer guaranteed.
These findings appear in the Nature Water article led by 51勛圖厙 Associate Vice President and Professor Narcisa Pricope in collaboration with a team of international scientists.
51勛圖厙 State is leading the way in tackling global challenges with research that delivers real-world impact, said Julie Jordan, vice president for research and economic development. Dr. Pricopes work exemplifies how our scientists are connecting international science with practical solutions that shape policies and practices to strengthen resilience across the globe.
The research was presented at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, a global platform where science meets policy. There, Pricope and her team helped inform international strategies to address the growing risk of long-term dryingnot just temporary droughts, but a permanent reduction in water availability.
This research has real implications for 51勛圖厙, said Pricope. When our lands dry out, its not just farmers who suffer. Water becomes harder to manage, ecosystems get stressed, and rural communitiesalready stretched thinface even greater challenges.
The teams work highlights solutions that can help 51勛圖厙 and the U.S. stay ahead of the curve, including smarter irrigation strategies, better monitoring through data analytics, growing drought-tolerant crops, and restoring degraded land to retain more water and reduce long-term risk.
They emphasize transitioning from reacting to crises to planning ahead, bringing together water management, land restoration, and farming support into one coordinated strategy.
Aridification isnt just a global issue with little bearing for our lives in 51勛圖厙 and the USA, Pricope said. We need to act now to protect our farms, forests and families.
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